Prosecutors press Appellate Court to return Azem Syla to detention

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) are asking the Appellate Court to put Azem Syla back behind bars, who on Monday was released from detention pending trial. Former MP and General Commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Azem Syla is facing corruption charges.

The Special Prosecution is expected to appeal the decision of the Basic Court in pristina who on Monday released Syla from detention on remand. But Ekrem Lutfiu spokesperson for the SPRK told online media Insajderi that they have taken officially the Court’s decision. “The Prosecution has not received any decision. The moment we get the decision, the Prosecution Office will file a complaint,” Lutfiu said.

On Monday the Basic Court of Pristina has released Syla from detention. Former PDK MP, Azem Syla, and 21 other people are accused of organized crime related to illegal expropriation of land under social ownership near Pristina in the case known as the “Land”. According to the indictment, members of this organized criminal group headed by Syla cooperated with one another, each having specific roles, to deprive Kosovo of its social property through criminal activities, including the falsification of decisions and other official documents, fraud, and activities related to corruption. In December 2016, Azem Syla plead not guilty. In February 2018 the case considered as one of the major organised crime cases has been transferred from EULEX to local judges. Only twenty days after the case has been transferred from international to local judges he was released from detention pending trial.